Improvement in fences



S. H.-GREGG.'

Fence-.-

No; 221,055. Patented Oct-'12s, I879.

WITNESSES:

more or less.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL H. GREGG, OF QRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,055, dated October28, 1879; application filed February 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. GREGG, of Crawfordsville, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Fence,of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the fence. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the fence-posts. Fig. 3 is a plan of the fence. Fig. 4 is a sectionof one of the posts, showing an oblong countersunk hole and ahook-headed bolt in position. Fig. 5 shows a mode of attaching thewoven-wire sections to the fence.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish a cheap and durable fencecomposed of iron and wood.

The invention consists in a fence-panel formed of a long and short post,twisted wires,'hook-headed bolts, springs, andboards, arranged andapplied as hereinafter described.

I employ an iron post, A, of peculiar construction, having a square flatbase, a, that is to beset in the ground to the depth of a foot, Fromthis base to the surface of the ground, or to a point, 0, a little aboveit, the post is furnished with four vertical flanges or ribs, 1) b b I),tapering upward and set at right angles to each other, so as to presenta transverse section in the form of a cross. At this point a the flangeon the front of post is cut away, leaving but threetwo side flanges andone back one. These flare outward for a short distance up to form thebroadest part of the post, and then taper upward to within a few inchesof the top of the post. At this last point the back flange or ribterminates so that the extreme end of the post is flat and pointed.

Iemploy a shorter post, B, in all respects resembling the longer one,excepting that it is cut off, as it were, so that instead of tapering toa point its top presents a section in the form of a T; and these formsor shapes of posts constitute an important part of my invention.

Further, I secure to the tops of the longer posts, and stretch from oneto the other of them, tnisted wires 0 O, first, however, stringing uponthe wires, before they are twisted throughout each section, the springsD D, that are made of pointed flat strips of metal, so that the saidsprings shall be held between or in the twist and have their sharp endsprojecting outward. cure to the posts by means of hook or loop headedbolts E E, that are inserted in oblong countersunk holes F F, made inposts.

By twisting the wires, and inserting the springs within the twists orloops, I secure for them sufficient elasticity to withstand the ef fectsof severe changes of temperature without straining on the posts or wire,while by the use of sharp-pointed springs I obtain in effect abarbed-wire fence.

With respect to the feature just described, I wouldstate that I do notclaim it, broadly, in this application, but reserve the right to coverit independently of other features in a separate application filedSeptember 20, 1879.

For ordinary purposes the construction of the fence is completedbyfastening boards G G to the posts; but for railroad-fences or fencesalong railroad lines, that are constantly exposed to damage from fire, Isubstitute common hoop or band iron for boards.

For an ornamental fence for parks, cemeteries, or private grounds, Iconstruct the fence with sections of woven wire or wicker work H,stretched between and secured to the posts with staples or some otherappropriate fastenings, as shown.

In the construction of either of these styles of fence I set the longposts about sixteen feet apart, more or less, and a short post midwaybetween them. By alternating shortposts with long ones the cost ofconstruction is greatly reduced, and increased strength and durabilitysecured.

When constructing a fence of this general design on prairie land or onsoil of like character, I substitute for the formof post above describedfour flanged posts tapering from near their center to both extremities,and drive them into the soil, instead of digging holes and setting themtherein- Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent A fence-panel consisting of the longpost provided with oblong holes F, the short post B,,the twisted wires0, the hook-headed bolts E, the springs D, and the boards G, all ar=ranged as shown and described.

SAMUEL H. GREGG. Witnesses:

URIAH M. SCOTT, J AMES S. SELLARs.

These wires I se-

